Boating Knowledge Base

Have a sailing question? Access NauticEd’s sailing and boating knowledge base, and gain in-depth answers to your sailing questions. If you’re interested in powerboating, visit our new powerboating blog.

Sailboat anchored by rocky cliffs in serene waters, under a clear sky, perfect for sailing adventures.

Anchoring with multiple anchors

Setting multiple anchors has multiple advantages. It reduces swing, reduces the holding load required by each anchor, and can act as a backup.
April 13, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Action by a Stand-On Vessel Nav Rule

Strangely enough, the written text for the action of a Stand-On vessel is longer than that of a Give-Way vessel.
August 31, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Diagram showing 12V DC power inverted to 110V AC current with a waveform illustration and labeled inverter.

Sailboat Inverters

Sailboat Inverters are devices used to convert 12-volt DC battery electricity to AC 110-volt or 220-volt electricity. Special electronics in
October 13, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Electronic Navigation

We are well into the 21st century. Chances are that within 30 feet (10 meters) of you right now there are 2-3 GPS-enabled potentially lifesaving devices...
October 20, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Close-up of a sailboat cockpit with winch, steering wheel, and navigation instruments under a clear blue sky.

Starting the Engine – Getting Familiar with a Charter Boat

Regarding the starting procedure, we’re assuming that since you’re actually commanding a sailboat you pretty much know how to turn the key and all the other safety precautions.
April 4, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Steel fluke anchor for secure boat mooring; ideal for sandy or muddy seabeds. Durable marine hardware.

Types of Anchors

Anchor design has been the focus of much research over thousands of years, and as a result, there are
October 20, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Sailboat demonstrating heaving-to maneuver with labeled parts: backwinded headsail, helm position, and sideways wake.

Sailing Heave To

When you have successfully hove-to (heaved-to), your sailboat will be in a stable situation with the mainsail and headsail still up. Your forward speed will be minimal and...
October 12, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Open yacht anchor locker with chain and windlass, showcasing teak deck and railing against blue sea backdrop.

Electric Windlass

An electric windlass is a powerful electric winch that greatly helps in the lowering and raising the anchor.
October 23, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Couple relaxing on the deck of a sailing yacht, enjoying a sunny day on clear blue water.

Anchoring Basics

Anchoring is not simply throwing a "hook" and letting out a line. Although by watching some sailors this seems to be their theory. The best way to approach anchoring is to dissect it into a series of individual steps.
April 13, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Sailing to a mooring ball at 60 degrees off the wind

Sailing to a Mooring Ball

Sailing up to a mooring ball is an advanced skill. It will definitely prove your finesse for handling the boat and managing the crew.
September 29, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Woman starting a dinghy motor near a catamaran at sea during sunset, showcasing boating and adventure lifestyle.

Dinghy Safety!

When it comes to dinghy operations, the following is a dangerous attitude: “It’s only a short distance ashore—jump in...
October 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Crew Briefing Video

It is important to know how much experience your crew has before you embark on any sailing adventure. For our boat, we created a video walkaround introduction to the boat covering safety items and also just general items on how we want our boat looked after.
October 15, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Sailboat docked at a marina with a neatly coiled rope on the pier under a clear blue sky.

Securing Your Sailboat

It is convenient to have dock lines that are pre-set to the right length with loops on the end and are permanently mounted onto the marina cleats. Now, when you return to the dock you simply slip the loops over your vessel cleats.
October 12, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Assorted sailboat hardware: snap hook, swivel block, cleats, shackles, rope jammer, jib sail hank, turnbuckle, pad eye.

Sailboat Running Rigging

A sailboat’s running rigging consists of those items controlling the sails and helping the sails to capture the wind’s energy.
October 18, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Two sailboats navigate wind conditions of 20 and 10 knots, illustrating sailing dynamics and wind impact.

Reefing the Sails

Before heading out, check forecasted wind conditions to see if you might need to reef at some point during the day. If so, make appropriate reefing preparations in the calm marina and ensure your crew knows the procedure.
October 12, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Sailing on a modern yacht at sunset, with a person relaxing on deck and the sea stretching to the horizon.

The Deck – Getting Familiar with a Charter Boat

Gaining knowledge about the boat, its systems, and its equipment is a great starting point for any sailing adventure.
April 5, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Comparison of masthead and fractional rig sailboats with labeled diagrams showing sail positions.

Mast Head and Fractional Rigging

There are two variations on the standing rigging set up: Masthead and Fractional. On masthead rigs, the attachment point for the sidestays (shrouds), forestay, and backstay (if they exist) is at the top of the mast.
October 15, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Nautical chart symbols for rocks, wrecks, and obstructions, detailing dangers and depths for safe navigation.

Chart Symbols

Studying a harbor layout does very little good without understanding the symbols and what they signify. It pays to
October 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Hull and Keel

A sailboat’s hull and keel receive considerable attention from a sailboat designer since they determine the capacity of the vessel, how fast it will go, and the degree of safety and comfort.
October 16, 2023/by Grant Headifen

When Turbulent Flow Happens in Sailing

An airplane stalls and falls out of the sky when the wings stop producing as much lift, similar to when turbulent air flow happens in sailing...
August 22, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Illustration of a sailboat viewed from above, showing sail, mast, and keel, highlighting basic sailing structure.

Using Spring Lines for Docking

A spring line is just a dockline that is placed strategically from the boat to the dock to help maneuver and turn the boat in place - get it safely into the dock or safely away.
October 24, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Sailboat engine cooling system diagram showing fluid flow through heat exchanger and pumps.

Diesel Raw-Water System

Raw-water means that the water is straight from outside the boat. It might be seawater - it might be
October 15, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Sail Twist Basics

How can the wind direction be different between the top of the mast and the bottom?
August 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Antique log-line and bucket display, used in traditional navigation for measuring a ship’s speed at sea.

Navigation Units

Sailors are forever measuring stuff. This brings us to the subject of navigation units. As we all remember from the good ol’ school days, measurement is the process of comparing something with an established standard.
October 13, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Last updated on December 6th, 2024